Some Shreveport stores to close Thanksgiving despite Black Friday pressure

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) - While some stores are opening earlier every year for Black Friday, even opening on Thanksgiving, some Shreveport stores say they will stay closed for the holiday.

The list of stores includes The Enchanted Garden and King Hardware & Gifts, both on Line Avenue.

"It's just that family is more important on a special day like that," said owner of  The Enchanted Garden Deb Cockrell.

The owner of King Hardware & Gifts Elizabeth McElhatten agrees and says bigger chain stores will be open, but she wants her and her employees to spend the holiday enjoying family.

McElhatten wants to give customers more of an experience instead of a bargain and she also encourages them to shop locally and not at big chain or "box" stores.

"We can't compete with those guys. They've got bigger buying power than we do and we can't get the deal that they're getting," said McElhatten.

Despite being closed on Thanksgiving, both stores will be open on Black Friday.

McElhatten even says they will host a family-friendly event featuring Santa Claus.

"That's our way of competing with the box stores. We're about customer services, we're about gift wrapping and giving you what you're not going to be able to get at the box stores," said McElhatten.

Cockrell says they're also hiring this holiday season.

"We've been hiring extra help because people are already shopping for Christmas."

Cockrell says they've already done most of their hiring, but anyone interested in applying can stop by the store and fill out an application.

According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, UPS and FedEx are also looking to hire seasonal employees.

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